Lack of certified seeds, fruit nurseries hitting agriculture productivity

A lack of availability of certified seeds and fruit nursery is hitting agricultural productivity for which tangible measures are needed to ensure food security in the country, said Professor Dr Iqrar Ahmad Khan, Vice Chancellor, University of Agriculture Faisalabad. He was addressing a concluding session of a training session under the project 'capacity building of agriculture scientists' from Balochistan organised by Office of Research, Innovation and Commercialisation (ORIC), UAF.
He said that the parliament had amended Seed Act that will help fight the challenges of food security. He said that the government had brought a 'Kissan Relief Package worth Rs 341 billion to give relief to farming community. He also said that it will enable the farming community to cultivate the next crops and to address their problems.
He said that as you sow, so shall you reap. Therefore, the quality seed is prerequisite to get the good agriculture productivity. He termed Balochistan a future food basket and said that a vast rang land and coastal areas must be brought under cultivation to harness the potential. He said that the University had introduced Seed Technology as the major in degree programmes. He said that Seed Centre was established to conduct the research and he also said that UAF admits all students nominated by Balochistan Government and not charging any kind of fee from the students.
He said though UAF is not a vocational institution but we are offering more than 200 skills development programs under continuing education department. Professor Dr Jafar Jaskani in welcome address said that during the 10-day training, the participants were kept busy from dawn till dusk in the hands-on training tasks. He said participants were already equipped with basis knowledge relating to tissue culture and the training at UAF further enhanced their theoretical knowledge as well as tamed with laboratory skills, preparation of media coupled with technical knowledge and field visits.
Director ORIC Mirza Muhammad Aslam said that we are having the talented manpower but the country was lacking in skilled manpower working at the farms and other sectors of the economy. He said that it was need of the hour to equip the farming community with modern agriculture trends to provide the food for the ever increasing population.